Pellets & Densified Biomass

BY Katie FletcherFound In:Pellets, Power, ThermalGroupe Savoie Inc., a hardwood products supplier in New Brunswick, Canada, recently announced that it plans to double the volume dedicated to the domestic side of its pellet production at its Saint-Quentin pellet plant in the coming year. READ MORE

BY Drax Group Found In:Pellets, PowerDrax Biomass has announced Peter Madden as its chief executive officer of U.S. operations. Madden has nearly 30 years' experience in the forestry industry and will play a critical leadership role as Drax's workforce and investment in the U.S. grows. READ MORE

BY Sustainable Biomass Partnership Found In:Pellets, PowerThe Sustainable Biomass Partnership has launched the SBP Framework to representatives of the EU Institutions at an event in Brussels. The framework consists of standards and independent certification procedures. READ MORE

BY Anna SimetFound In:Pellets, PowerCentennial Renewable Energy of Idaho announced that is building a 160,000-metric-ton wood pellet plant in northern Idaho and recently signed agreements to purchase land for the project. READ MORE

BY Katie FletcherFound In:PelletsAt the site of the former Norampac paper mill in Red Rock, Ontario, on Lake Superior's north shore, plans are in the works for a torrefied wood plant and commercial deep-water port for pellet exports. READ MORE

BY Biomass Thermal Energy Council & Pellet Fuels Institute Found In:Pellets, ThermalThe Biomass Thermal Energy Council and the Pellet Fuels Institute commend President Obama's commitment to expanding the use of renewable thermal energy with the issuance of Executive Order "Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade." READ MORE

BY Energy Technologies Institute Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced FuelsBioenergy has the potential to help secure UK energy supplies, mitigate climate change, and create significant green growth opportunities if deployed effectively, according to a new report from the Energy Technologies Institute. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, BiogasPresident Obama has signed an executive order focused on planning for federal sustainability in the next decade. Renewable energy targets and compliance with the USDA's BioPreferred program are among the issues addressed in the executive order. READ MORE

BY Viridis Energy Inc. Found In:PelletsViridis Energy Inc. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Scotia Atlantic Biomass Co. Ltd., has received a working capital loan of $2 million from Cornwall Investments LLC, which will be used to procure wood fiber for pellet production. READ MORE

BY Anna SimetFound In:Pellets, Power, ThermalLast week, I interviewed Greg Smith from Global Energy Solutions, and during our chat I asked him about opportune countries for bioenergy project development. READ MORE

BY Anna SimetFound In:Pellets, PowerOn top of opening the largest biomass-fired power station in North America, Ontario Power Generation reported 2014 income at $568 million before extraordinary gain, a 334 percent increase compared to $135 million in 2013.
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BY Katie FletcherFound In:PelletsOn March 17, Rentech Inc. announced 2014 financial results, reporting the company is commissioning its 45,000 metric ton Atikokan, Ontario, pellet plant and nearing the end of construction at its 450,000 metric ton Wawa, Ontario, facility. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsLegislation pending in Minnesota aims to establish state production incentives for advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and biomass thermal. The measure was introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate in February. READ MORE

BY Tim PortzFound In:Pellets, PowerExecutive Editor offers a congratulations to Ed Billington on the recent sale of his pellet distribution business to Drax and offers some thoughts on what it says about Drax and pellet business in general. READ MORE

BY re:heat Found In:Pellets, ThermalLeading players in the U.K.'s biomass industry have joined forces to develop a skills standard under the British government's Apprenticeship Trailblazers program. The Biomass Installation Engineer program is led by Neil Harrison of re:heat. READ MORE

BY Katie FletcherFound In:Pellets, Advanced FuelsOn March 10, the Wood Pellet Association of Canada announced that its board of directors unanimously approved the appointment of Michele Rebiere as the new president and director of the trade association. READ MORE

BY Joint BioEnergy Institute Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsJoint BioEnergy Institute researchers have used advanced proteomic techniques to identify 1,750 unique proteins in shoots of switchgrass, a North American native prairie grass that is widely viewed as one of the most promising fuel crop candidates. READ MORE

BY Anna SimetFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced FuelsFor the past three years, Biomass Magazine has recognized outstanding industry contributions and achievements through two special awards granted at the International Biomass Conference & Expo. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, BiogasThe U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the March issue of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, forecasting that total renewables used for electricity and heat generation will grow by 2.9 percent this year. READ MORE

BY Northern Forest Center Found In:Pellets, ThermalFinancial and technical assistance to help homeowners and businesses switch to high-efficiency wood pellet heating is now available to Adirondack homeowners and businesses through the Adirondack Model Neighborhood Wood Heat Initiative. READ MORE

BY Viridis Energy Inc. Found In:Pellets, Power, ThermalViridis Energy Inc. recently announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Viridis Merchants Inc., has secured a contract with an existing supplier for exclusive distribution of up to 18,000 metric tons of 100 percent Douglas fir pellets. READ MORE

BY Katie FletcherFound In:Pellets, ThermalThe Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings, or Standard 189.1, may include a definition of biomass, as well as requirements pertaining to the use of the source in the future. READ MORE

BY University of Illinois ACES Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsA recent study simulated a side-by-side comparison of the yields and costs of producing ethanol using miscanthus, switchgrass, and corn stover. The fast-growing energy grass miscanthus was the clear winner. READ MORE

BY Drax Group Found In:Pellets, Power, ThermalDrax has announced the acquisition of Billington Bioenergy Ltd., the U.K.'s second largest wood pellet distributor. The move signals the power generator's intention to enter the country's growing biomass heat sector. READ MORE

BY United Nations Development Programme Found In:Pellets, ThermalThe United Nations Development Programme has announced the second stage of a project in Moldova that aims to install dozens of biomass heating plants and hundreds of biomass boilers. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe U.S. Department of Energy updated its notice for the recently announced meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. The meeting will now take place as a webinar on March 5. READ MORE

BY Carla Harper Found In:PelletsIn an industry largely focused on adding capacity in half million ton chunks, two producers acted on an opportunity they saw for far smaller pellet operations. READ MORE

BY ÖkoFEN Found In:Pellets, Power, ThermalA 5 kWe cogen pellet boiler prototype system, designed and manufactured by OkoFEN, with Qnergy's Stirling engine inside, was introduced to the market at the The World Sustainable Energy Days in Wels, Austria. READ MORE